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4/1/04
 Wondering
again
Just Wondering ... When
will IHRA take the next logical step and allow the return
of injected nitro Funny Cars to their professional Funny
Car class and put some life back into that class? Fans want
nitro, they want nitro Funny Cars and, strictly from a fan
point of view, the more nitro the better!
Just Wondering ... Was
I the only one that noticed the crowd reaction when the
V-Rod Harleys kicked butt at Gainesville? It was the biggest
reaction I heard from that crowd all weekend. Can the V-Rod
Harleys actually make the NHRA Pro Bike class exciting?
American-built Harleys versus bikes made in Japan -- now
that is something that could get the fans going.
Just Wondering ... Am I
the only one who thinks one-day events featuring several
classes of heads-up cars, and a few match races are really
neat? I see more and more track promoters like Byron Dragway's
Ron Leek, George Howard at Huntsville, and Carl Weisinger
at Orlando putting on one-day events with a $20-25 ticket.
I think that with the skyrocketing price of gasoline these
races are going to just get more popular with the racers
and fans.
Just Wondering ... If gas
goes to $3.00 a gallon or more nationwide as is predicted,
how much will that affect the number of touring sportsman
racers and fans that travel to races over 100 miles from
home?
Just Wondering ... When
will NHRA follow IHRA's lead and make full-face helmets
mandatory in all classes? I interviewed several racing doctors
who've all stated that Billy Williams and John Lingenfelter
-- who both wore open faced helmets -- would have come through
their accidents in much better shape if they had used a
full-face helmet. How many more racers will have to die
or be permanently disabled before all sanctioning bodies
require full-face helmets?
Just Wondering ... When
are the two main sanctioning bodies going to make head and
neck restraint systems mandatory in all professional classes?
How can they in good conscience allow racers to drive racecars
at speeds up to 330-mph on tracks with concrete walls? Make
the rule, dammit!
Just Wondering ... is there
a better exhibition act in drag racing than watching a jet-powered
Kenworth at night with the track lights off? I don't care
what your favorite is, that act is worth buying a ticket
to see.
Just Wondering ... What
happens to all of the online entries that NHRA sportsman
racers have made for national events if NHRA's mainframe
computer where to crash? I'm sure NHRA has a back-plan but
it is something to think about isn't it?
Just Wondering ... There
were 20 entries in the Top Fuel class at IHRA's Texas Nationals.
When was the last time an IHRA Top Fuel class had 20 entries?
Just Wondering ... What
the hell is IHRA thinking when they run a Pro session at
2:00 in the afternoon on a Friday? Why not wait until at
least 7:00 p.m. so the working stiff has a chance to get
off work and get to the track?
Just Wondering ... Why
NHRA does the driver introductions on the starting line
at their national events? I sat in the stands a couple of
races ago and, because of the sun, couldn't see the introductions
on the Jumbo-tron, and couldn't hear the P.A. How about
making those intros at half-track in front of the big grandstands?
Just Wondering ... Wouldn't
Sport Compact racing be a little more interesting to the
mainstream drag racer and fan if instead of too many classes
and short fields they just had a run-what-ya-brung, anything
goes, quick eight or quick 16 eliminator? Rear wheel drive
vs. front wheel drive, or rotary versus the world would
get my attention.
Just Wondering ... Am I
the only one that really, really, misses the Top Fuel Harley
class at IHRA national events?
Just Wondering ... Has
anyone ever actually won a million dollars at one of the
so-called "Million Dollar" bracket races? I wonder what
is the most that one individual has taken home?
Just Wondering ... When
are the IHRA and NHRA going to get the clue that forcing
spectators (especially new-to-the-sport spectators) to watch
bracket racing of any kind is not only cruel but in some
cases actually drives new fans away from the sport. If new
fans have to watch bracket racing, at least eliminate stutter
boxes and require every car to drive the stripe. And one
more thing, how 'bout just a win light and speeds on the
boards so that new fans don't have to try to figure out
why the first car over the stripe doesn't win.
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